Variae Lectiones

THE HARPER COLLINS REVIEW OF “VARIAE LECTIONS”, RECEIVED MONDAY 28 MARCH 2011:
A FEW COMMENTS.

1. I am grateful to Harper Collins for what seems to me to be a very fair and sensible review. Thank you.

2. The email informing me of the review says: “an editor at HarperCollins has now read from the first 10,000 words of your manuscript.” I am sure that the editor read a good deal more than ten thousand words, and I do understand what a task this long book must have been. To read only 10,000 words of it is roughly equivalent to setting out to read The Bible, but only reading as far as Genesis Chapter 19. There are 50 Chapters in Genesis and, I believe, 66 books in The Bible.

3. One day I must have a look at Galsworthy!

4. “ ... all these little details add up to the feeling that an entire world is being created here.”
That is (part of) my aim.

5. “... it isn’t immediately clear who is going to be the main character (or characters).”
This is deliberate – in life we never know at the beginning who is going to be important, and those who are important always pass away and are replaced by others. I think that this is an important feature of a ‘Family Saga’. The earliest family events referred to in this book take place before the year 1500, the last after 2000.

6. “... some condensation needs to take place given the number of years that the book covers ... this leaves the reader feeling like something has been missed or skipped over.”
Indeed so – this tells me that the book needs to be longer (!)

7. “The main issue with this manuscript is its length.”
Agreed wholeheartedly – but I am a very big fan of the books of Samuel Richardson, particularly “Clarissa”.

8. “Also of concern is that it is written in homage to and in the style of another writer, in this case Sir Hugh Walpole.”
This is a slight misunderstanding by the reviewer – only the Prologue sections are so written. For the later sections I try to make the style of writing appropriate to the time in which they are set.

9. “ ... if this book is intended only for readers familiar with the work of a specific writer, that makes for a relatively small audience.”
Enjoyment, understanding or appreciation of the book do not in any way depend upon knowledge of Walpole’s books, though for pleasure, one who enjoys reading about the later lives of some of the ‘overlap’ characters might enjoy reading “Vanessa” by Walpole, from which a very few (acknowledged) passages are quoted.

10. “It seems that this book is intended for a very select readership rather than a wide, commercial audience ...”
Guilty as charged, M’Lud, but doesn’t that apply to much literary fiction?

Roger Thurling

Variae Lectiones

I was very intrigued by your pitch; well designed and captures the imagination. I wanted to read on.
Chapter One
This is where you relate all of the research you have done, the editing and the justification for your writing, and, pardon me, it seems a little unnecessary. Although I can understand why you have written it, I have to ask if a publisher would be interested in your ‘I have done it this way because I want to’ remarks. Just a thought; they only read the first chapter or so when glancing through the site; and could be put off by this.
Chapter Two
Here is where the action starts with a succinct prologue. I was a little confused at first by all the Herries clan; it can be disconcerting to be thrown into the action and dialogue straight away, but the characters soon assert themselves and I quickly became immersed in their story…
Chapter Three
The structure of this chapter works well, each section describing the viewpoint of another character, explaining the thoughts and the feelings they have about their mutual history. Benji’s worry over Emily’s survival of the war, as he has not heard anything from her, is touching; and their relationship, as it develops, is heart-warming. It makes the end of the chapter almost harder to bear; Sally’s acceptance of that special relationship is also indicative of a bygone era, full of naivety and charm. I can almost see the smog of London and hear the birds in the country. For a side character, Sally has her fair share of hardship and heartache during the War; losing her husband to the holocaust, but she is still a strong and kind woman and has found solace in a new husband. Good for her!
Chapter Four
OOOh new character, Brenda Cards. Love the diary format, especially the comment about beating Ted’s wife to the birth (just typical female thinking).
Yeah, back to Emily...and she bought Westaways, of course she did. Wouldn’t Benjie have been proud? If only fixer-uppers still cost only 20,000 pounds! I’d have three, at least.
More new characters: David now, do I need to swot up or are there cliff notes?
Now it all makes sense, Frances is Brenda’s child and David is Ted’s. Love the ritual bit, kissing cousins indeed...
Good writing, as always. You appear to excel at the women’s thoughts, David comes across a bit stilted, but maybe this is his character. I will read on and let you know.
Chapter Five
Okay, now I like him more. Not as stilted. Close relationship with Frances makes him seem more human. Poor sod! Aspermatic.
Chapter Six
He ‘was well pleased with that’ colloquialism, bit early in history...? It ‘wd’ have been nearer; text talk, before texting was invented. Definitely goats in Heidi (smiles nostalgically).
Er, excuse me David, 14 year old girl, 14 you perv!
28th July diary entry. “I moved tent”, think you mean I moved THE tent.
Love the description of the Scottish islands and the typically ‘dour’ inhabitants. David really comes to life here.

Chapter Seven
There is a lot of foreign language in this chapter,(Gaelic and German) the notes help greatly but you said in the first chapter that you are only putting them there for your benefit, as an aide-memoire. Might be useful to ,either, leave them in or get a character to translate the gist...?
Chapter eight
Just one little spelling error, when Heidi was explaining to Fi about David, janet the haggis etc, you say “she’d been around all day....so she want and bought another in....” Think you mean “went and bought.”
Chapter nine
Sex/love scene with Janet, an extra lonely speechmark on David’s thoughts as she touches him. Also,“May I tale these off you too?”? Think you mean, “take”.

Incidently, “Here be dragons” is one of my all time favourite books!

Apart from the little spelling errors, where you were obviously caught up in the narrative (sigh), I really liked this scene. You did this well, no salacious content; real lovemaking. The softness of David’s treatment of Janet makes his character all the more compassionate, one can almost forget that she is still quite young; mind you, so is he...
Okay the last bit of this chapter, with the \F-class, shocks me (brought up a Catholic; never really leaves you, even as a confirmed agnostic) but I think that is the point, isn’t it? It works, wakes one up, so to speak, although it does seem a little as though the author is using the character to show his mathematical and physics knowledge. Just a thought... :o)
Chapter 101
David 2009- the rose among thorns- knew I should have copywrit any reference to roses and thorns! Lol
OMG Janet has had his baby! But were we not supposed to think that he couldn’t have children? You sly old thing...but then what would have been the purpose of the ‘ramblings’ at the end of chapter 9. I like this book, have I mentioned it before?
Brenda and Ted, yep were way too close, way too close! Poor Frances!
Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practtice to decieve! Bless them each and every one.
I am quite emotional now, though David’s profligacy comes as a bit of a shock!


Okay so I have finished what I set out to read and it was only in chapter 7 that I realised that the whole was written in the present tense. Well done, difficult to do and almost impossible to detect. I love when a novel so captures the imagination that its form becomes a sideline, insignificant.
Did I mention that I like this book?

One point though, perhaps you could divide it up into seven/eight novels in a saga and pitch it as a collection of family histories to a publisher. 100,000 words seems to be the norm for a novel these days and it would be a shame for the world not to hear this story.

Alors, it is late and my battery on the netbook is about to die. Hope my thoughts have helped; if not, feel free to ignore them.
BACKED!
Millie x

Chapter 1 to 17 and Chapter 101

Yes, I "cheated" and read the last chapter. What a revelation in 101! I suspected some of it, with Brenda's dates in her Lett's diary etc and David with Stacey, Heidi and Janet on the Isle of Harris.
I enjoyed the long sweep of time, with thoughts of past generations and second cousins once removed. The dates were so precise and methodical, it felt like a factual history of a real family.
Benjie was an interesting character and his relationship with Emily was particularly warm. The dialogue felt convincing and genuine, depicting the politeness and courtesy of that era and class. The character of Amery, Emily's father, and Sally, Benjie's daughter, were also strong and realistic. When I read of Jack's death in the Second World War, it was sad to think back to his comment when he met Bejie for the first time, because he died before his father, and never did acquire.the expected knighthood.
The happy, carefree scene by the caravan is soon rocked by the war. Emily is evacuated and is not allowed to write letters to Benjie, who loses touch with her. Amery is killed after he volunteers for active service and Jack is killed in the North African desert. All a far cry from the tranquil spot in the Lake District. Benjie's daughter is in Germany as the war begins and her blind husband (also part Jewish) is shot by the Germans.
In many ways this reflects what happened to many British families in the Second World War: wives lost contact with husbands and children were evacuated far from home. Mothers lost their sons, sisters lost their brothers and whole families were wiped out by bombs. Anyone born after 1945 owes their existence to their parents surviving the war. My father survived, but two of his close friends did not, and neither did three of his cousins. All down to chance.
Brenda's diary entries are fascinating (my mum used to have that type of day by day Lett's diary.) Also, David and Frances are exactly two years older than myself, so I found it easy to keep track of their ages. The tone of the English Lit. lesson was all too familiar and felt very realistic (though I was at an all girls' boarding school and our teachers were nowhere near as informed and inspiring as Frances' English teacher!) All the talk of O' levels and A' levels and then degrees was spot on, as was the attitude towards boyfriends and sex etc.
I could understand why Brenda was concerned about David and Frances becoming too friendly. They were both skilled at languages, like David's father; so that's another clue!
David can't resist the girls, but it's not completely his fault, they do seem to throw themselves at him! He doesn't worry too much about contraception because he's been diagnosed as infertile, something I remained sceptical of, feeling there was bound to be repercussions later. I was interested in your depiction of the Isle of Harris, because I travelled there on a walking /camping holiday .in the late 1980s. It seemed very familiar, except I found the sea extremely cold (perhaps I'm a wimp?)
The narrative moves ahead to when David has completed his PG teacher training and arrives at the private girls' school for an interview. This section is especially amusing and the interaction between the young schoolgirls and David is fun and realistic. David proves himself to be a caring and dedicated teacher; he's able to communicate with the young girls, having an easy going manner while still keeping (relative) control. However, he's struggling when near the older girls. He can't help but be attracted to several of the sixth formers, who don't wear uniform and seem like women not girls. The reader can see this is going to end in trouble and sure enough, his relationship with Miranda strengthens. You describe David's thoughts and emotions vividly: Miranda is an intelligent and attractive eighteen year old and she's closer in age to him than to the eleven year olds he's supervising. He needs to be friendly, but when is friendly, too friendly?
There are very few male teachers, so David has no one to guide him. He's only just out of university himself and it feels almost inevitable that Miranda will prove too appealing for him to resist. You offer no excuse or try to apportion blame; their sailing holiday is told as it happens and no one is pressured or pushed into anything.
It is an enjoyable time for both David and Miranda, but I was on edge all the while, knowing they'd be seen or discovered. Tension mounts when Miranda's mother interrogates her on the return and we learn Miranda's deception has been uncovered by a chance meeting. That chance meeting changes the life of Miranda and David forever.
You increase the suspense as David's called to the headmistress' office. Again, this is skilfully done. You reveal Helen's thoughts as she hears talk from a younger girl; the significance and stupidity of the relationship is emphasised by her horrified reaction. Helen likes David a great deal, but she believes the young girl's report of seeing the two together, so she must have seen signs of his weakness for women. Meanwhile, the headmistress makes it clear she knows. David doesn't try to deny it or blame Miranda. He offers no excuses or explanations. Although he wishes to say goodbye to his form, for whom he has geniune concern, and to help another class with exam preparation, he accepts the request for him to move out of his rooms in the almshouse and to leave the school in disgrace. Jim gives some support by saying he's a good teacher and he'll write a reference for a position at a boys' school if he needs it; this shows how highly David is thought of, because Jim doesn't usually dare go against the headmistress' wishes.
When David looks back at the school and thinks of the girls he cared about, his unhappy thoughts show his strength of character. He's thinking of the girls and their unmarked homework etc and also, even as he wonders how he and Miranda were discovered, he's not blaming anyone but himself. The Tichborne Elegy is particularly poignant. His life isn't over, but he feels his teaching career is.
Skipping ahead more than twenty-five years, I read the final chapter. David has inherited the family title, the one young Jack thought he would inherit. Clearly Jack's younger brother Tony must have died and also David's father, for David to have the title. He is welcoming a delegation to his beautiful house and he has a young family. I wasn't sure what his situation was, until he meets Janet, a lady delegate. They recognise each other: she is Janet, the girl from the Isle of Harris, and they talk together in the library.
As David explains what has happened in the years since their meeting, I realised what a mixed-up life he has lead. Even though he was basically a decent, well meaning man who always tried to do his best, he was married to his half-sister and has two sons called David, one of them also his grandson.
David's story is complicated but so is Janet's. She was only fourteen when she met David in Scotland. Unknown to him, he left her pregnant with his son. She wasn't able to contact him and after university, she married someone else. Now David has three sons called David! What an ending!
This is a tremendous achievement. You've created a history of several generations of the Herries family and shown how their lives overlap and influence each other. You take us into the minds of the main characters and help us identify or feel sympathy for them. The style is clear and confident and you use many methods, such as letters and diary entries, to relate the story. The dialogue is appropriate for each speaker and I found David's exchanges with the Third Form girls especially realistic and entertaining.
The length is part of its appeal, but I worry that publishers may be put off by that. I'm not an expert on publishers by any means, but it's generally thought they want shorter stories for readers with shorter attention spans, and shorter stories are cheaper to publish too. To a lesser extent, I've had a similar problem: Neomene's tale is now two -thirds of a way through at 230, 000 words. Advised by many on this site, I've decided to adapt it into three volumes. It's said that some publishers like a series because it involves less investment than three separate books. That's just what I've heard, though I think it is anyone's guess what publishers want!.
All credit to you though. I've backed this.
Cherry G.
The Girl From Ithaca

Where to begin? To describe this book as an epic, as it stands, is to understate the case. The reader could easily call for the removals van and move into it, live in it - and possibly never come back out. This is an incredibly bold project in today's book world and deserves applause for that fact alone. The writing is assured and clear. It carries the reader along in a massive cinematic style: close-ups, pans, zooms - it takes real skill to deliver such long narrative and expositional pieces with hardly any dialogue and MAKE IT WORK! The dialogue in these passages occurs at just the right points, giving a sense of focus and live reality that rounds them off with craftsmanlike precision.

The dialogue sequences proper are such that the reader can clearly hear the voices (as with all the dialogue, however brief) and, as another person has commented, are, with the lightly tipped-in descriptives, practically a screenplay.

The extraordinary sweep of time and place along with the profusion of characters, concepts and events is truly breathtaking.

Roger Thurling likes Tolstoy and Joyce. I like John Cowper Powys. The long novel is a rarity these days - and it seems they're read by fewer and fewer people with each passing year. This says a lot about the state of our culture and humanity in general - none of it particularly positive.

The publishing industry is currently on its uppers, unfortunately for long novels, but, as has already been suggested, Variae Lectiones could be made into a series of novels (think Powell's A Dance To The Music Of Time or Raven's Alms For Oblivion series) which must surely tempt the publisher with the prospect of several hits instead of one... And of course, the movies or TV drama treatments.

I take great pleasure in backing this rare and wonderful work.

Bill Booker, Trippers.

This is a magnificent saga, and its length and detail just add to the enjoyment. You begin beautifully with the meeting of Emily and her family with Benjie. I read the prologue, taking us to the beginning of the war, with Emily evacuated to Cornwall and having to climb out of the window in order to post her letter to Benjie. You develop your characters well, and we feel we know Benjie, in particular; and Emily, who seems like an adult in her conversation, while still only a child. Your settings are described with imagery and detail which bring the place and the period to life vividly. Dipping at random, I went on to read about Miranda and David, her trip in the boat, how her mother (an unpleasant character, but, I suppose, acting in accordance with the attitudes of the time) found out; and David's interview with the Headmistress, and his immediate dismissal. This is again full of vibrant detail and with characters, especially David, whom we can quickly relate to and like. This is a very enjoyable, well written book, an engrossing story, and one which should certainly be published. Backed.
Gerry McCullough,
Belfast Girls.

:)

:)

My finger was hovering over the "back" button when I saw it had already made it to the editor's desk . . . oh, well. Massive undertaking, well done, beautifully written. It isn't something I would chose for myself personally, but I can certainly see it as a series in the Fiction and Literature section of a bookstore. HC isn't the only publisher out there. You may want to carve out what would be the first novel and try marketing that to publishers and agents, because the one thing HC got right is that few if any would even look at it beyond the word count, and this deserves to be looked at. Good luck with it.

1st. I agree with you concerning the use of the word 'that'. ESPECIALLY if you are writing historical work. If I open a book set during the first half of the 19th century and someone says, 'I shall meet you in the next half-hour', then the book gets put back on its bookseller's shelf.

As for length, The Lord of the Rings is about the same length, complete with index, glossary, a history of Middle-Earth, etc. It makes that book stand out from the crowd - it is a world in and of itself, and that is a large part of why it is successful. Plus, Tolkien, and Galsworthy, were enormous bestselling authors.

Footnotes: I LOVE footnotes.

HarperCollins, you must understand, is a bit backward. They have yet to move into the 21st century, they have yet to smell the coffee. I wouldn't concern yourself over them if I were you: there are other publishers with more vision. HarperCollins is large, fat, and slow - they will have to adapt (become lean and hungry) to the modern, digital world if they want to survive. Their opinion of your book is, therefore, of little interest. Keep it: you may laugh at it one day.

Dear Roger, I've just read the HC review and your own comments. I do wonder if publishers really know what the reading public wants, especially these days when profit comes before everything, narrowing the opportunities for authors such as yourself. I know I'm not the whole of the "reading public" but you've had some very favourable, genuine comments and I'd buy your book, which presumably would need to be published in several volumes. The parts I've read portray British life in various eras and this appeals greatly to me in this age of globisation. That may sound insular but in the last decade all things British have been increasingly obliterated by other cultures. I am not against these other cultures - far from it - as a Christian I am happy to embrace them. But I do love the country in which I live, and love to read about it! Perhaps we should set up a publishing company of our own, to publish the things we like and not what the agents and publishers say we should in terms of what will sell. Would this company make money? Debatable, but in this age of free internet access surely there's a market? (I don't want to just be able to read VL on this site - it should be available to buy in some form). I for one can walk into a bookshop these days and find little, certainly at the entrance, that is of interest. Secondhand bookshops hold more appeal. But if the modern bookshops were filled with books like yours, that would be a different matter. I'm of a certain age, and for me the changing world, especially the book world, is a scary place! I do hope this gets published - it deserves to. Good luck with it!
Best wishes, Adelina

Hi, Roger. Just wanted to say well done for getting a review, for making it public, and for commenting on it. Salute, my friend. Mac

Well done, Roger...frankly speaking I was much more impressed by your response to the review than by the review itself!
Good luck
Stewart

This summary of your work is piece of my book, "Destined to Triumph", Chapter One - titled My Roots. Thank you, great thoughts.

This summary of your work is piece of my book, "Destined to Triumph", Chapter One - titled My Roots. Thank you, great thoughts.

Hi, Roger. I read your HC review and your own comments. There was one in particular that grabbed me, because I do this to and I realise I will get a similar mention in regards to multi-character focus. I don't like the convention of always having to have one or two main characters. Yes, there may be ones that get more of a mention, but still others' POVs can be just as relevant to the story. It can also show more of a major player's personality, or give the reader info about certain situations that cannot be grasp by any other character.

And as long as it fits into the plot, why cant we have more? Sometimes it's good to show a range of characters, such as seen in television programmes. For example: "EastEnders" and "Coronation Street" for Brits, "Neighbours" or "Home and Away" for Australians, and "Shortland Street" for Kiwis. Viewers enjoy this formatting too, where we get to follow one lot of people for one scene, then zip over to someone else. Plus, life isn't just one or two characters. There is a wider community out there, with extended families, friends that pop in and out, or someone that you might run into on the street (as seen in these programmes). Work, school, home life, entertainment... How are we supposed to give a rounded impression on life if we choose to ignore these aspects? Plus, in regards to a saga there is bound to be a number of people coming into the story. And, as long as you've built up the characters and made them memorable I think the multi-character elements can work. Distinctive characters stick in people's minds. They stay there even after putting a book down for a year or more.

Sorry that I only chose to comment on this facet. It was just something that jumped out at me as sometimes conventions are so damn frustrating. All the best - Marita.

Regarding the HC review of VARIAE LECTIONS, which the author has kindly made public so we may all get a feel for things.

I confess I have no knowledge of Sir Hugh Walpole's works. But this did not put me off reading VL I enjoyed the chapters I read and cld easily have read on, in part for the unaccustoned pleasure of reading long. I also think the historic sweep of the story has great merit and found there was gentle charm in some of the episodes. I was reminded of Bramwell Evans' ROMANY stories in some ways. The story of Benjies' romance and death is a novella in itself. VL stands alone in many ways and is many stories intricately woven into one. It stands alone. No prior knowledge is required to draw pleasure from it.

The popularity of retrospective English period pieces on TV and in film is clear and vigorous. There is a market for a story such as VL. I think that with the proper appreciation and handling the story cld prove commercially viable and profitable. There is also intense interest in matters genealogical which might, with intelligent handling be tapped into. And as for modern pacing, with the population now ageing rapidly many people now find themselves on Saga's mailing list. Many of these folk are well educated, patient and with the time and inclination to make an effort in their choice of reading. There are millions of them. They are modern, albeit grey modern, and their pacing is ... subtle and varied. Those millions of teens and twenties barely have time to read their tweets and check their facebook sites. And they don't have much money. They want their mind stuff free. This stoey is clearly not for them. But they are not the bulk of the population.

I hope the author sells the TV rights to VL one day. There is a wealth of material for a canny director to get his or her teeth into. And the audience IS there.

Orlando Furioso.

Commercial interests nowadays rule - and this means that we will lose a great many reads such as yours, sadly. While the Jordans of the world cut a swathe all the way to the bank.

THE HARPER COLLINS REVIEW OF “VARIAE LECTIONS”, RECEIVED MONDAY 28 MARCH 2011:
A FEW COMMENTS.

1. I am grateful to Harper Collins for what seems to me to be a very fair and sensible review. Thank you.

2. The email informing me of the review says: “an editor at HarperCollins has now read from the first 10,000 words of your manuscript.” I am sure that the editor read a good deal more than ten thousand words, and I do understand what a task this long book must have been. To read only 10,000 words of it is roughly equivalent to setting out to read The Bible, but only reading as far as Genesis Chapter 19. There are 50 Chapters in Genesis and, I believe, 66 books in The Bible.

3. One day I must have a look at Galsworthy!

4. “ ... all these little details add up to the feeling that an entire world is being created here.”
That is (part of) my aim.

5. “... it isn’t immediately clear who is going to be the main character (or characters).”
This is deliberate – in life we never know at the beginning who is going to be important, and those who are important always pass away and are replaced by others. I think that this is an important feature of a ‘Family Saga’. The earliest family events referred to in this book take place before the year 1500, the last after 2000.

6. “... some condensation needs to take place given the number of years that the book covers ... this leaves the reader feeling like something has been missed or skipped over.”
Indeed so – this tells me that the book needs to be longer (!)

7. “The main issue with this manuscript is its length.”
Agreed wholeheartedly – but I am a very big fan of the books of Samuel Richardson, particularly “Clarissa”.

8. “Also of concern is that it is written in homage to and in the style of another writer, in this case Sir Hugh Walpole.”
This is a slight misunderstanding by the reviewer – only the Prologue sections are so written. For the later sections I try to make the style of writing appropriate to the time in which they are set.

9. “ ... if this book is intended only for readers familiar with the work of a specific writer, that makes for a relatively small audience.”
Enjoyment, understanding or appreciation of the book do not in any way depend upon knowledge of Walpole’s books, though for pleasure, one who enjoys reading about the later lives of some of the ‘overlap’ characters might enjoy reading “Vanessa” by Walpole, from which a very few (acknowledged) passages are quoted.

10. “It seems that this book is intended for a very select readership rather than a wide, commercial audience ...”
Guilty as charged, M’Lud, but doesn’t that apply to much literary fiction?

Roger Thurling

Nice job.

Billy McBride

Roger,
I backed your book. It held my attention, so I put it on my shelf. Please take a look at either of my two novels, DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS, or MY GENTLEMAN FRIEND. If you like either on of them and possible back either one or both, it would be appreciated.

Dwain-Thomas

yOU backed my book once before , because of the mew system I have lost many points so I'M asking you to back me again - thank you and good luck !

As you say, the opening is slow. I suggest that you remedy this immediately and not just leave this matter unresolved, as the opening is one of the keys to drawing people into your book. At the moment this is one reason why I will not read past your opening paragraphs as there is not enough to encourage me to read more. You mention that the work is very long, but this also discourages me from making the effort to read, and I would guess that a Commissioning Editor may feel the same. I would recommend that you seriously consider reorganising your material into a publishable size (first instalment) which is self contained, making clear that further volumes in the story will follow. Good luck.

Paul T Kidd

Congrats Roger! So happy for you.

Your friend,

Carla Marie

Hi Roger, I read parts of this in december, The details are very descriptive and all I can say is , "WOW What a fertile mind! I have given it another star. Harold Alvin(ICON)Wesley I back it and it is on my shelf!

well done

This is something to be proud of.

Congratulations Roger

Any blurb can come up with plot and character. This chap's above such things.

I have to say I think this needs to be cut down. Even the great JRR Tolkien wrote LOR in 3/6 books. Think that perhaps this would be better split. I must admit I don't have time to read an online book in excess of 150,000 words. So didn't even try. This might put potential publishers off. Not that I could say one way on the other, just my personal view. Is it possible to break this into 2 or 3 books?

Orlando Furiaskew tells me I should BACK you for your run in. Good luck!

An intirguing book that demands much more of my time than I can give. What I have read is nicely crafted, and certainly worthy of my backing. Colin

Vide infra (see comment below by Brian)
Just a help for those who – like me – were not fortunate enough to study Latin at school.

Salve Roger – Greetings, Roger
Fugit hora – the hour flies, cf tempus fugit, meaning ‘time flies’.
quinon proficit deficit – he who does not go forward, goes back
potius sero quam numquam (Livy) – it is better late than never
'Variae Lectiones' – variant readings
Magnum Opus – great work
Curriculum Vitae - The course of one's life
'Veni, Vidi, Vici!' (Julius Caesar) – I came, I saw, I conquered
vincere est totum – to win is everything
Fortius quo fidelius – Strength through loyalty
Bona Fortuna! – good fortune / good luck
Vox populi vox dei - The voice of the people is the voice of God
Consummatum Est. – It is accomplished

Roger

Salve Roger

Fugit hora and quinon proficit deficit, but potius sero quam numquam and I think that 'Variae Lectiones' is a Magnum Opus of great distinction, a fitting addition to your Curriculum Vitae. In six days I hope you can say 'Veni, Vidi, Vici !' as around here vincere est totum.
Fortius quo fidelius. Bona Fortuna ! Vox populi vox dei.
Consummatum Est.

Brian

I have read the first 3 chapters. This is a very fascinating story. I have read enough to encourage me to come back for more and enjoy your research efforts along with very interesting characters. Edward

Roger, first of all let me thank you for backing The Book of Drachma. That means a lot to me. I know that it has been sinking in the rankings, in part related to the fact that I haven't been able to pay much attention to the folks at Authonomy of late. This is mostly due to the fact that I have been working feverishly to get the book done, and I'm now well into the final section of the book. Like you, I have been struggling with the issue of whether to break it into smaller, more readable segments, or to keep it whole. I think that I shall follow the natural breaks of the story line, but break the book up into three.
As to your critique about the medical jargon that I used early in the book, let me say that I see where you're coming from, but I have decided to leave it pretty much as is for now (pending a good review by a good editor). Let me explain. When I started this project, back in 1989, I was motivated by two concerns/questions posed by my medical colleagues at a conference. The first of these was that in the lay media there did not seem to be many medical stories that were accurate, either in their representation of the medical 'facts' or, more particularly the medical decision making that went on in our lives. They just weren't getting it right. Then there were the implications of our actions, or the motivations, the reasons we doctors behave as we do - this just was not being accurately portrayed. And the second question that arose was 'what makes a doctor?' Is it the training, the technology, the 'stuff' of our education, or is it something else? Could you take a physician, trained in a modern medical school, with all of our medical know-how and technical wizardry, place him/her in an environment in which he/she had none of that, and could he still be a healer?
Lastly, let me say it has been a pleasure to read your book, and though I'm not very far into it, I have backed it, and given it a (temporary) star rating, to be adjusted as I read on.
Best of luck,
Tim

I think you are unrealistic in your expectations from editors and publishers. Since I spend a good deal of my time reading other writer's work, I can tell you that no one wants to slog through 700 pages of someone else's work just to tell them how to make it more palatable. Also, if you need a chapter just to explain your writing style it is not readily enough absorbed by the attention deficit public, which is today's audience. If you chunk this thing down and think of how it appeals to an audience it will work better for you.
Roberta

I couldn\t stop laughing at the ridiculous comment below. I imagine it's from some gremlin who hates people on or near the editor's desk. Glad to see you're maintaining your position and I look forward to seeing which publisher takes your novel on. I hope you're including the family tree as it will make such a good inside double leaf - if it goes into just two sides! Good luck. Rosalind
GOOD FOR HIM

I couldn't stop laughing at this, not because it was funny, but how it was written.

Your structure is overtly passive and sounds like it was written by a nine-year-old.

I suggest you pick another subject.

But before you do that, read lots of well-written books.

Roger,

It's an interesting pitch and well presented--enough to make me dally.

Chapter 1: Half a million words and counting? I bow to anyone who can write so many.

Chapter 2: Comfortable, fluent prose but the point of view flits without warning between the characters, causing mild vertigo.

Chapters x: So many characters and there's no one to guide me through this landscape. If only the storyteller would show himself. I need a guide to show me the narrative thread and to cajole me from one place or character to the next. In the absence of a compelling narrator who has a voice, opinions, foreknowledge and a brick-solid point of view, I will demur. But thank you for your kind invitation and good luck with it.

ereim

The pitch for this book was fascinating enough to hook me and I liked the concept. I was immediately drawn in by the characters and countryside, and the dialogue. The caravan is a wonderful feature - I am assuming this is the bow-roofed type, gaily painted – like the one we had in our garden at home. I was grabbed and held captive by the imagery of England and the climate at the time. It’s the mark of a great writer to make one’s readers care about the main characters which you have done effortlessly. I wanted to linger over each for some time and the geneologies which I also enjoyed. Family sagas are popular so this book shouldn’t have any problem being picked up. This is a deep and great book. Starred and on my w/l. Claire ~ Chasing Pharaohs.

The pitch for this book was fascinating enough to hook me and I liked the concept. I was immediately drawn in by the characters and countryside, and the dialogue. The caravan is a wonderful feature - I am assuming this is the bow-roofed type, gaily painted – like the one we had in our garden at home. I was grabbed and held captive by the imagery of England and the climate at the time. It’s the mark of a great writer to make one’s readers care about the main characters which you have done effortlessly. I wanted to linger over each for some time and the geneologies which I also enjoyed. Family sagas are popular so this book shouldn’t have any problem being picked up. This is a deep and great read. Starred and on my w/l. Claire ~ Chasing Pharaohs.

The pitch for this book was fascinating enough to hook me and I liked the concept. I was immediately drawn in by the characters and countryside, and the dialogue. The caravan is a wonderful feature - I am assuming this is the bow-roofed type, gaily painted – like the one we had in our garden at home. I was grabbed and held captive by the imagery of England and the climate at the time. It’s the mark of a great writer to make one’s readers care about the main characters which you have done effortlessly. I wanted to linger over each for some time and the geneologies which I also enjoyed. Family sagas are popular so this book shouldn’t have any problem being picked up. This is a deep and great read. Starred and on my w/l. Claire ~ Chasing Pharaohs.

An amazing achievement which deserves to find a publisher. But given the current climate and the rising generation seem to have the concentration of a goldfish, I really don't see it happening. Very good luck with it.

Roger,

What an undertaking your book is! I am intrigued - and particularly by your references to the Rogue Herries books, which my mother has often praised, and which I now feel inspired to check out!

Good luck! Catherine

Not really my thing but well written, backed.

Hi Roger,

I backed you before and see no reason why I should not be BACKING you again. Good luck for the future.

Frank James (The Contractor)

Variae Lectiones

Hi Roger

Whatever I write will do not justice to the epic energy and ambition of this book. You are a legend on this site, possibly the largest upload in terms of wordage from a single book, and the half a million here is dwarfed by what there is still to come. You followed the advice of my English teacher Mr Dobson, you wrote and you wrote and you wrote. I read the first four chapters, all I had time for and I found crisp and clear prose that delivered story in an unpretentious and clear fashion. This is a book that doesn't shy away from breaking literary taboos, the sheer length alone proves that. You are a very good writer, your pitch was clever and draw me in too.

In terms of finding a market for such an opus, the best of luck, if it is to find a market it might be sans its rather pretentious name, a bit of a let down really when the rest of the writing is so crisp and unpretentious. Your prologue is wonderfully bombastic and just a bit arrogant, my advice would be to ditch it, it put me off before your characters endeared me to your work.

I cannot reliably comment really, your effort, your energy, your singularity of vision and your writing are all very humbling. Best wishes and good luck
Benevolence
Andrew W.

Greetings, Mr Orlando Furioso recommended VL to me. He has a good eye. BACKED with pleasure. Good luck with your run in...and a well earned rest from all this post Dec 31.
Beccsy

Roger, very clever and well constructed pitches, the final paragraph of the long pitch being exceptionally effective, lead the reader into an epic novel on a grand scale. I've read ten chapters with mounting astonishment, completely in awe at the breadth of your ambition as a writer and the skill you demonstrate at an editorial task that must have been truly daunting. Very professional.
That opening chapter made me pause and go back to re-read it, barely able to come to terms with what you are offering. Salutations! I certainly feel the novel would be 'untouchable' in its present form, but you know this and, having already accepted it would need to be divided into a series of novels, I have no doubt of your ability to accomplish this task.
Chapter eight was another chapter I returned to for a more measured read. The lengthy passages in German and Gaelic should have presented a barrier, but they did not - quite an achievement.
I won't presume to criticise this. You have my admiration and a place on my shelf at a crucial time. I shall await your HC review with great interest!
Jake.

This is not so much a book as a universe. I have only dipped my toe in it and am caught-up by it. The author has an ambition worthy of Galsworthy if not Milton.

It tells a saga but is strangely it seems like an outline or pitch* for a film rather than a book. I wish a TV production company would buy it and flesh it out on screen. Given the reputed length of the entire oeuvre it could run on a weekly basis for a few years and provide employment for every thespian currently waitressing or barman-ing whilst waiting for the call as well as the rep company that seems to provide Poirot, Marple and Midsomer with their casts.

When I say that it seems an outline I mean that the sparse prose tells the story at such pace that the first chapter could be four times as long. The dialogue could be greatly expanded, the characters far more fleshed-out, the sense of place deepened, people might think about their feelings, the descriptions of the events amplified - in short it is written as a story not like a booky book. Take for instance Emily's stepmother, has any character had less keystrokes lavished on her transition from someone's daughter to somebody else's wife?

In a small way I feel like the French general, Pierre Bosquet, watching the charge of the Light Brigade - "C'est magnifique, mais ce n'est pas la guerre."

*the world's longest pitch.

A unique book which has left an ever lasting impression.

Backed and rated with pleasure.

Lisa

Wow!

I have a stricked rule not to back anything i can't see over the top of, or carry.
So i can only wish you all the best with this epic, and pray that the words don't out last your years.

Back on my shelf - one of the best books I've read on this site. Terrific concept written into a great and exceptionally enjoyable read.

Thank you!
Justis Call
Prestidigitations

My only comment/ I love what you wrote in your message to the reader- read chapter one!!! LOLZ... you sound like i would love to sound when anyone gives me those weird tips...fortunately many have not! Best of luck is all i can say...exacept that your notes above made me laugh and that is a compliment.

I really like your novel so far. Generally get bored with lack of action, but you tell the story so well, even though it is told calmly. I hope to return to read some more. There were (very) few errors. I went back and could only find this one. "cried over a woman for the first time IN many years." I will back it happily. (and I think you're right. I have no record of backing it before like I thought I had, so will do so now.)
Teresa. Mary Magdalene; My Story

only when you get to the story that you get the surprise; a wonderful sense of place, a dialog that flows like honey and a specificity of everyday life ...